Pastors & Staff

Pastors

Pastor David J. Lose

Senior Pastor

Pastor Lose became the ninth senior pastor of Mount Olivet in July, 2017. Previously, he served as president of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, taught on the faculty of Luther Seminary, and served several congregations in New Jersey. He is the author of the “Making Sense” series of books and resources from Augsburg Fortress. Pastor Lose is grateful for his wife, Karin, and children, Jack and Katie. He looks forward to building on Mount Olivet’s distinguished history and present strengths so that it can be a leading light in the greater church, community, and world as we share the good news of Christ in creative and compelling ways.

Pastor Kurt P. Kalland

Associate Pastor

Pastor Kalland has served as an associate pastor at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church since 1992. Pastor Kalland is the Pastoral Adviser to the Pastoral Care Team and is happy to be known as the “Monsignor” of the Mount Olivet Motorheads group. He has been happily married to his wife, Dawn, for over 30 years, (they met at Cathedral of the Pines), and is blessed with two exceptional daughters as well as a son-in-law. Pastor Kalland remains active in the recovery community. In his free time, he enjoys cleaning automobiles, humor, shooting sports, playing outside and his work as a volunteer Chaplain for the Edina Police Department.

Pastor Monica M. Hammersten

Associate Pastor

The daughter of an Irish Catholic father and a Swedish Lutheran mother, Pastor Hammersten was raised at Mount Olivet and has served in many roles here throughout the years, being called as a pastor in June of 2008. A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and Luther Seminary, Pastor Hammersten has worked as a Spanish Interpreter and a restaurant manager and owner. She currently serves as Pastoral Adviser to the Fellowship Team and our Special Needs Ministries. She and her husband Tom have three sons: Jack, Ben and Eli. When not at church, you’re likely to find her anywhere outdoors in God’s creation.

Pastor William B. MacLean

Associate Pastor

Pastor MacLean came to Mount Olivet in May, 2012, after a career in fixed income sales and trading with U.S. Bank and Piper Jaffray. He serves as Pastoral Adviser to Membership, Community Concern, Men’s Breakfasts, and Friends Forever, and is an enthusiastic member of the bass section of the Senior Choir. Pastor MacLean graduated from Rollins College and Bethel Seminary. He and his wife, Laurie, live in Edina and are the parents of four grown children: Ted, Anna (Michael) Coffey, Grace (Michael) Perillo, and Julia. Pastor MacLean is active on several local boards and considers ministry a wonderful culmination of his life and work experience.

Pastor Anna K. Helgen

Associate Pastor

Pastor Helgen was baptized and confirmed at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary and previously worked in youth ministry at Christ the King (White Bear Lake) and St. Timothy (St. Paul). Pastor Helgen’s love for building community and for creation was shaped as a camp counselor at Christikon (Montana), and as a canoe guide at Wilderness Canoe Base (Grand Marais). Pastor Helgen joined the Mount Olivet pastoral staff in 2017 and serves as the Pastoral Adviser to Children & Family Ministry and Young Adult Ministry. She lives in St. Paul with her husband Kurt and son Berney.

Pastor Charlie R. Ruud

Associate Pastor

Pastor Ruud joined the pastoral team at Mount Olivet in July of 2018. Ordained in 2009, he has previously served Bethel Lutheran Church (Northfield) and Normandale Lutheran Church (Edina). Pr. Ruud’s areas of leadership at Mount Olivet include being pastoral adviser to Adult Learning and Confirmation. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary and during his time at seminary also spent 4+ yrs as a professional baseball player for the St. Paul Saints. He and his spouse, Becky, are grateful parents to three daughters. Aside from pastoring, he enjoys playing and listening to music, all things sports-related, fishing, and sampling craft beers.

Pastor Mark J. Dixon

Associate Pastor

Pastor Dixon started at Mount Olivet in August of 2018. Previously he and his wife, Mollie, lived in Princeton, New Jersey, where he worked on his PhD in history and she worked as an RN in labor and delivery. Since their marriage in 2009, they have lived in Minnesota, Alaska, New Jersey, and Germany. The Dixons have two very energetic sons, aged two and four. Pastor Dixon serves as the Pastoral Adviser to the West Campus, and when not pastoring enjoys watching movies, cooking, and reading. He and his wife also like taking the boys to wide open fields to watch them run.